Multiday Event

﻿Mapping Displacement: Refugee Crises in Global Perspective

Globally, 65.6 million people have been forced to flee from their homes, including 40.3 million displaced in their home countries and 22.5 million refugees. The magnitude of these numbers can be difficult to grasp, and too often the human side can be forgotten. Mapping Displacement is a visual interactive display illuminating the intricacies of refugee crises around the world. All members of the community are invited to explore and reflect.

Sponsored By: STAND: The Student Led Movement to End Mass Atrocities
For more information: Yiyi Wu, yyw1111@brandeis.edu

Thursday, February 1

﻿Conversations in Global Health Service Delivery

Thursday, Feb. 1, 3:00-5:00 p.m.International Lounge, Usdan

An esteemed panel of global health professionals will engage with the Brandeis community in a discussion aimed at addressing the opportunities and obstacles to global aid and global health service delivery. Faculty, staff, and students of Brandeis and other local universities are welcome to attend. The panelists will present their unique platforms, as well as to answer prepared questions from a proctor, and questions from the audience.

﻿Distinct and United: A Speak-In on Asians, Asian Americans, and Pacific Islanders

Thursday, Feb. 1, 6:00-7:30 p.m.Location: Intercultural Center Lounge

What do the terms “Asian American” and “Pacific Islander” (AAPI) really mean? These are sweeping categories that encompass people from a wide range origins and experiences. The term “Asian American” has only been part of our identity terminology since the 1960s, and was actually created to connect and empower these extraordinarily diverse communities. Join the Brandeis Asian American Task Force as three AAPI speakers share their work, their personal and professional journeys and how we can find commonalities and unity through the “AAPI” label. Refreshments will be served.

﻿'DEIS Impact Kickoff Party

Thursday, Feb. 1, 6:30-8:00 p.m.Location: The Stein

Passionate about a cause? Excited to learn from other student activists and leaders? Join the 2018 ’DEIS Impacter team and event coordinators as we formally kick off the seventh annual ’DEIS Impact social justice festival. Refreshments will be served.

Friday, February 2

﻿Words Matter: How to Help Social Movements by Using Humanizing Language

Friday, Feb. 2, 1:00-2:30 p.m.Alumni Lounge, Usdan- Note new location

Do you want to make an impact on social injustices around the world? If so, a crucial step is understanding and properly using language and terminology. Join Active Minds at Brandeis University and The Fortune Society in an engaging and insightful event that will address the need, importance and impact of using humanizing language both in everyday conversations and especially in social movements. The event will include a captivating seminar followed by an all-inclusive roundtable discussion. Refreshments will be served.

Sponsored By: Active Minds at Brandeis University and The Fortune Society
For more information: Ely Schudrich, eschudrich@brandeis.edu

And Still We Rise

Friday, Feb. 2, 4:00-6:00 p.m.Shapiro Campus Center Multipurpose Room

And Still We Rise brings stories of the impact of prison on the incarcerated and their families, friends and loved ones. Stories of struggle and overcoming will be performed by the people who lived and continue to live them. Participants will share responses to the stories presented and dialogue together about ways to address the inequities of mass incarceration. Leave feeling educated and empowered. Refreshments will be served. For more info visit andstillwerise.org.

﻿Slam Impact

Friday, Feb. 2, 7:30-9:00 p.m.Mandel Center for the Humanities Forum

Slam Impact is an intentional space for students to share their life experiences through poetry and spoken word. The theme of the performances is “living social justice”. Our performers will be articulating their own individual journeys to take social justice from a theoretical level to a lived and personal one in poetic and beautiful language. You are encouraged to come, listen, join in and reflect. Refreshments will be served.

Saturday, February 3

﻿R E U S E: Reconstruction Workshop for Sustainability

Saturday, Feb. 3, 2:00-4:00 p.m.Shapiro Campus Center 313

The average American throws away between 65 and 81 pounds of clothing per year; this amounts to as much as 26 billion tons of waste per year in the United States—just for clothing! In partnership with Art in Suburbia, this DIY workshop will bring out our artistic sides as we engage in creative and unique ways to combat waste and promote sustainability. Bring your old clothing and tarnished fabrics to reconstruct into new garments, create original artwork, donate to the program and discuss ways to further encourage donation, repurposing and recycling of clothing. The workshop is open to people with all levels of experience and participation. Students who own personal sewing kits or handheld sewing devices are encouraged to bring their own as a limited number are available for use, however, it is not required for attendance.

Sunday, February 4

﻿#STANDUPFIGHTBACK: How to Organize on a Campus

This workshop will be focused on providing strategies and tools necessary to organize and lead successful social justice campaigns on campus. Attendees will learn a variety of ways in which their privilege can be used to promote equality for students, faculty, and workers on campus; in addition to fostering solidarity with statewide, national, and global movements. Focusing on action, attendees will learn the best ways to produce tangible results through organizing. Refreshments will be served.

﻿Sites of Intersection: College, Activism & Identity

Sunday, Feb. 4, 2:00-3:30 p.m.International Lounge, Usdan

How are colleges situated to be birthing sites for activism and identity exploration? How might university students navigate and use their undergraduate time to effectively enact change? A special guest will speak on the intersections of activism and identity, followed by a collaborative discussion facilitated by members of the Queer Resource Center. This event aims to prompt a critical analysis of and conversation about student activism at and beyond Brandeis. Refreshments will be served.

Monday, February 5

﻿﻿Circle Up! A New Play Investigating the Achievement Gap

Monday, Feb. 5, 2:00-4:00 p.m.Shapiro Campus Center Theater

Circle Up! is performed by Youth Underground, an ensemble that creates and performs original theater that investigates social issues relevant to young people. Their pieces are created through a series of interviews with the community. This performance includes interviews centered on the achievement gap. See and hear what is going on in urban high schools by listening to the voices of real students—and the educators who work with them—as they describe the effects of opportunity gaps and implicit bias on their everyday lives.

Sponsored By: Creativity, the Arts, and Social Transformation Program (CAST)
For more information: Azlin Perdomo, aperdomo@brandeis.edu

﻿"Sound and Fury": A Film Screening by Brandeis ASL Club & Lurie Institute

Monday, Feb. 5, 5:00-8:00 p.m.Heller School, Altman Amphitheater G1

What are the different ways in which society views and understands deafness? How is this related to the intense controversy over cochlear implants? The entire Brandeis community is invited to join the Brandeis American Sign Language club and the Lurie Institute for Disability Policy as we explore these questions and deepen our understanding of Deaf identity and culture. We will begin by watching the powerful documentary “Sound and Fury,” which follows two families faced with deciding whether or not to give their children cochlear implants. Afterwards, a panel of experts in the field will offer their perspectives and lead an in-depth discussion on the issues raised in the film. Refreshments will be served.

Sponsored By: Brandeis American Sign Language Club and Lurie Institute for Disability Policy
For more information: Victoria Sharaga, victoriasharaga@gmail.com

﻿Social Justice Case Challenge

The Waltham Group and Hiatt Career Center are proud to partner with two popular employer partners, UNICEF USA and City Year, to host a case challenge for students. Students will be presented with real challenges faced by our employer-partners. On the day of the event, students will be divided into small teams to work collaboratively to propose solutions to a designated challenge. Student teams will present their recommendations to recruiters from UNICEF USA and City Year. Students will receive feedback from our employer-partners and two student teams will be recognized.

Sponsored By: Waltham Group, Hiatt Career Center, City Year and UNICEF USA
For more information: Lauren Shortall, lshortall@brandeis.edu

Tuesday, February 6

﻿'Deis Does Cit Sci: Citizen Science and Social Justice

Tuesday, Feb. 6, 12:30-1:50 p.m.International Lounge, Usdan

Scientific research is more than PhDs in lab coats at prestigious universities. Science can also be a kindergarten class raising and tagging monarch butterflies, or hobbyists recording bird sightings, or other collaborative efforts between local residents and professional researchers. “Citizen Science”, in fact, led to the discovery of the extent of the Flint, Michigan water crisis. Join us as we hear from Dr. Mark Chandler, the International Director of Research at the Earthwatch Institute, on how citizen science can help pursue a more socially just world. Afterwards, guests will learn how to use a citizen science platform, iNaturalist, in order to participate in this April’s global City Nature Challenge.

﻿Work and Workers at Brandeis: The People Who Make it Run

Tuesday, Feb. 6, 3:30-5:00 p.m.Alumni Lounge, Usdan

Unions play an integral role in solidifying the just treatment of workers—a goal of all Brandeis’ five unions. Brandeis’ Leftists for Direct Action and the Brandeis Labor Coalition will be hosting a panel of campus union workers, where they will discuss their experiences as part of a union and specifically the role that unions play at Brandeis.

KEYNOTE: "One Person at a Time, One Humanity Closer": Tackling the Syrian Crisis from New Hampshire

Wednesday, February 7

﻿Owning your economic success

Wednesday, Feb. 7, 12:00-1:30 p.m.Shapiro Campus Center 313

Have you ever balanced a budget? Can you tell the difference between a stock and a bond? Do you know how to file your tax return? If you answered “no” to any of these questions, you are not alone. Thousands of students graduate from high school and college without receiving the basic financial literacy education necessary to independently manage their lives and careers. Junior Achievement (JA) fills that void by providing students across New England with dozens of financial literacy workshops and programs, all free of charge. You are invited to join speakers from JA as they discuss their experiences helping ensure every student has the skills they need to enter the workforce. Refreshments will be served.

﻿Exploring social justice in the Brandeis classroom and beyond: courses, internships, and careers

Wednesday, Feb. 7, 2:30-4:00 p.m.Shapiro Campus Center 313

This student-focused event is designed to raise awareness and spark discussion about the variety of paths within Brandeis and beyond for students to explore and pursue their interest in social justice in diverse fields. Importantly, it is designed to help students think more critically about how to weave social justice into aspects of academic life at Brandeis, even if their major/internship/etc. is not obviously tied to social justice. Faculty, advisors and alumni are also welcome to attend and reflect. Refreshments will be served.

﻿H2Woe: The Struggle for Clean Water

Wednesday, Feb. 7, 7:30-10:00 p.m.International Lounge, Usdan

Why is diarrhea such a large cause of death in many countries? What can we do to change that? In an ever-modernizing world, we are facing a water crisis like none other. Join FIRMC as we show a documentary, “A World Without Water” that depicts the worldwide struggle for water with a focus in Bolivia, Detroit, Dar Es Salaam, and Rajasthan. Following the documentary, we will host an open discussion, regarding the importance of water sanitation, and what we can do to help. Take initiative and get involved in your own community to ensure water accessibility for future generations.

Sponsored By: Foundation for International Medical Relief of Children (FIMRC)
For more information: Talia Gerard, taliagerard@brandeis.edu

﻿Modern Day Slavery and Trafficking: A Survivor’s Story

15,000-17,000 men, women, and children are trafficked into the United States every year. These men and women are brought into the country with a purpose of a better life and are instead faced with a living nightmare. From physical to emotional abuse, stripped identities, and no compensation, survivors of slavery and trafficking have individual and incredibly moving stories to tell. Hear from a survivor of modern day slavery and human trafficking. See for yourself how slavery still exists in the U.S. and the world. Find out what you can do to help stop it.

﻿Powers of Place: Inequities of Geography and Work in the 21st Century

Thursday, Feb. 8, 6:30-8:00 p.m.Lurias, Hassenfeld Conference Center

In the 21st century economy, location is everything. This career and social justice-related event will focus on the challenges for individuals and communities in both accessing jobs and pursuing upward mobility due to their geographic location. Some challenges that will be discussed are barriers to transportation and the decline of opportunities in rural regions. Explore the privileges and challenges of place, consider alternatives and solutions, and share your experiences with this social and economic issue.

﻿Is Teach for America For America?

Thursday, Feb. 8, 8:00-9:30 p.m.Location: Schwartz Auditorium

Education is the hallmark of a child’s development.We must strive to make it as equitable as possible. With this in mind, a panel of faculty and educators will examine social justice in the classroom as it is executed by Teach for America and similar organizations. Teach for America seeks to bring university graduates interested in education into underprivileged communities. However, Teach for America and other post-grad education organizations have been criticized for not actually fulfilling the mission of social justice in education. We will provide a critical look at social justice in education, and create a space to view our activism and make sure it is achieving our goals. Refreshments will be served.

﻿'DEIS Impact Graduate Student and Post-Doc Poster Session

Friday, Feb. 9, 1:00-3:00 p.m.Shapiro Campus Center Atrium

Brandeis graduate students and post-docs will present their expertise or scholarly work in social justice in the form of creatively designed posters. The session will be an inviting, open-format experience where the Brandeis community is welcomed to stroll through and view the posters on display. The graduate student and post-doc poster designers will be available to further articulate the meaning behind their work and answer questions.

﻿After the Storm: Housing Insecurity in the Wake of Natural Disasters

There have been numerous devastating natural disasters in recent months which can be easily forgotten as time passes. At this event, we will hear from guest speakers who have worked directly in the aftermath of these storms. Specifically, we will discuss how disasters affect housing security, particularly for populations experiencing homelessness before these storms. How are their lives affected by hurricanes? Come learn more about the long-term damage to housing security and households resulting from these disasters, and how you can help. Refreshments will be served.

Sponsored By: Waltham Group Hunger and Homelessness and Habitat for Humanity
For more information: Lily Elderkin, elderkin@brandeis.edu

﻿Modern 3D Printing Meets Disabilities

Friday, Feb. 9, 5:00-6:30 p.m.Alumni Lounge, Usdan

How are emerging technologies enabling the future of social justice? Come explore the world of 3D printed prosthetics and learn how 3D printing is helping children and their families who cannot afford constant replacements of their prosthetics as they grow. Become part of a global community that is using technology to help thousands of children around the world with affordable 3D printed limbs. Have some snacks, learn about the 3D printing movement, and help build 3D printed prosthetic hands! No experience with 3D printing required.

﻿“This Only the Beginning. Not the End” with Chinese LGBTQ+ activist Zi’en Cui (崔子恩)

Friday, Feb. 9, 6:30-8:00 p.m.Shapiro Campus Center Theater

Zi’en Cui (崔子恩) is a Chinese avant-garde director and producer, an author, and a pioneering LGBTQIA+ activist. He founded the first LGBTQIA+ film festival in China called Beijing Queer Film Festival, which was forcibly ended by the Chinese government. Cui responded, “This is only the beginning, not the end.” He now lives in the U.S. and has received numerous international awards for his activism. During this event, Cui will show a clip of his movie "Queer China, 'Comrade' China," speak about his experience as a queer person and LGBTQ activist and lead a discussion about intersectionality, queer culture and international activism. Refreshments will be served.

Sponsored By: Queer People of Color Coalition and Brandeis Asian American Task Force (BAATF)
For more information: Yiyi Wu, yyw1111@brandeis.edu

Saturday, February 10

﻿'DEIS Impact Celebration

Saturday, Feb. 10, 8:00-10:00 p.m.Location: Chums Coffeehouse

Come celebrate! Join other Brandeis leaders and change-makers to fuel up for a lifetime of pursuing social justice. Learn how to diversify your world. Explore what was learned during ’DEIS Impact and think about its application for everyday life. Listen to our favorite campus groups perform. Enjoy delicious snacks and great company. Come join us in our celebration of the impact we will all continue to make.

Sunday, February 11

﻿Seeds of Solidarity: Grow Food, Grow Justice!

Healthy and sufficient food for all is critical to social justice, as is strengthening personal and community power resilience in these times. Are you interested in how to use low-cost, local resources and simple tools to create low maintenance gardens on urban lots, lawns, or small farms to ensure that good food is a basic human right for all? Do you care about doing so in ways that treat the soil as sacred, conserve water, help restore the climate, and promote food access and diverse community partnerships? Get inspired in this energizing workshop with Deb Habib and Ricky Baruc, founders of Seed of Solidarity Farm and Education Center in Orange MA, where they created an oasis from the ground up. They are three-decade farmers and educators who promote food justice through programs for toddlers through teenagers, people in recovery and those incarcerated. As part of the workshop, there will be time to share and get advice for your food justice ideas and activism!

Sponsored By: Brandeis Farmers Club and Department of Spiritual and Religious Life
For more information: Benee Hershon, bhershon@brandeis.edu

﻿Become an Immigration Representative

Ever wanted to get legal and court experience before graduating? Interested in immigration representation but don't have a law degree? If you answered yes to either of those questions or if you have any interest in immigration, then this event is for you! Join the Brandeis Student Association for TRII in becoming a Department of Justice accredited representative. Being an accredited representative means you can help non-citizens file legal work, conduct interviews, attend DHS hearings, and, with enough experience, even be a part of the court appeals process! Over 90% of asylum seekers without representation have their cases denied. You can be the difference. Join us.

Sponsored By: Brandeis Student Association for TRII and The Right to Immigration Institute (TRII)
For more information: Jonathan Goldman, jgoldman@therighttoimmigration.org

﻿Social Justice On Your Plate

Sunday, Feb. 11, 3:30-5:00 p.m.
Location: Ridgewood Commons

Is animal welfare a social justice issue? Come discuss the place of animals in a social justice framework while eating impactful and flavorful food. Cayla Mackey, a vegan chef and the CEO of Unicorn Goods, the world’s largest vegan store, will prepare delicious plant-based food while engaging in a discussion with the audience about the impacts of everyday purchases, including food, clothing, and other items in which animal products are present. Meat-eaters, vegetarians, and vegans alike are welcome to join the conversation about how we can ensure that animals—farm animals or otherwise— live a life free from suffering through the decisions we make every day.

'DEIS Impact Open Mic

Sunday, Feb. 11, 4:00-5:00 p.m.
Shapiro Campus Center Atrium

'DEIS Impacters believe that social justice issues are fluid and dynamic. As such, there are many different concerns across the world that we cannot fully address through the pre-planned events. This is our chance to raise issues and bring to light social justice concerns that are of interest to the university community. Come by our open mic and sing, dance, perform or speak about any social justice issue that you care about. Refreshments will be served.

﻿Fantastic Tools and Where to Find Them: Environmental Justice in Action

Sunday, Feb. 11, 5:00-6:30 p.m.
Shapiro Campus Center 313

Join the Brandeis Harry Potter Alliance (HPA) in a discussion about how to use fandom to take action for environmental justice and environmental refugees. We will be educating about environmental justice through fandoms such as Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Pokemon and more, via toolkits provided by the national HPA organization. Join us to unite for climate justice!